Poll: New Yorkers want Democrat-controlled state Senate

ALBANY (AP) -- With Election Day closing in, a new poll shows New York voters feeling about as well as they ever have of the Senate and Assembly, while slightly cooling to the hugely popular Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The Siena College poll shows 45 percent of voters have a favorable view of the Senate, now in Republican control. That's the second highest level ever for the poll. The poll also shows 43 percent of voters would re-elect their senator, compared to 35 percent who prefer someone else.

The Assembly run by Democrats also has its second-highest rating ever, at 41 percent approval and, like the Senate, has fewer voters that disapprove of the chamber.

"People like to see government working," said Siena's Steven Greenberg. "They got things done and people don't call them dysfunctional anymore."

Advertisement

Control of the Senate will be decided in the elections in 63 districts Nov. 6. Republicans have a 33-29 majority now after regaining control of the Senate in the 2010 elections after two years of Democratic rule. Redistricting this year created a 63rd seat beginning Jan. 1.

As for Cuomo, he remains highly popular halfway through his first term although a few degrees less. Cuomo was seen favorably by 67 percent of voters, down from 71 percent in August and his lowest as governor.

Fifty-eight percent of voters judged his job performance as excellent or good. That rate was 60 percent in August, not enough to say voters feel differently about how he is doing his job. Another 32 percent termed his work as fair.

"Cuomo continues to receive strong favorability and job performance grades from not only Democrats, but also from independents and Republicans," Greenberg said.

Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif credited poll results showing support for the Senate to its working with Cuomo on a fiscally conservative platform, which included reducing spending.

Senate Democrats, however, seize on the poll result that shows 55 percent of voters statewide want a Democratic majority for the Senate. Democrats hold a nearly 2-to-1 voter enrollment advantage. Greenberg said the outcome "is really a reflection of party." Democrats said they see more.

"Today's Siena poll once again proves that New Yorkers believe that Senate Democrats better represent their values," said Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy. He said the support reflects voters' support statewide of social measures, including raising the minimum wage.

But Reif called it "a meaningless poll question." He said the Democratic majority from 2008 to 2010 was marked by political chaos, gridlock and tax and spending increases.

"Control of the Senate is determined one race at a time, and we're going to grow our majority," he said.

Early polls in critical races have buoyed Republicans' hopes of holding the majority, helped by a nearly 5:1 funding advantage.

Siena's poll questioned 750 likely voters by telephone from Monday to Wednesday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.